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Allegheny County A Team presents alternative crisis-response model to Coraopolis council
Summary
Allegheny County’s A Team described an alternative-response model that sends behavioral-health teams to 911 calls instead of police, noting expansion to more than 20 municipalities and 18 police departments and a countywide rollout goal.
Kate Vander Wiede, Project Manager with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, told the Borough of Coraopolis council on March 4 that the A Team is an "Alternative Response Program" that aims to send a behavioral-health or human-service response to crises in the field rather than defaulting to a law-enforcement response.
The presentation, given by Vander Wiede and Jon Chillinsky, a regional director for the A Team, explained that the program began in 2024 and "fits into the County’s improved crisis system so no matter what number you call you can get the same kind of support." Vander Wiede said, "The A Team will come out to you and resolve the crisis in the field in your community." Chillinsky added the program has "expanded our services to over 20 Municipalities and 18 Police Departments" and that leadership hopes to serve the entire county within a few years.
Why it matters: Council members were given background on an alternative approach to responding to behavioral-health and human-service emergencies that could reduce law-enforcement involvement on certain 911 calls. The presenters characterized the A Team as a "fourth branch of emergency services" intended to deploy specialized responders to behavioral-health crises.
Council did not vote on adopting or funding any local change at the workshop. Presenters directed attendees to handouts provided to council and described the A Team’s goals and geographic expansion; no formal local commitment or contract was requested during the presentation. The borough manager and council may follow up if they choose to explore integrating A Team dispatch or partnership details into local protocols.
